Le Corbusier

The following is a pictorial folio of some of Le Corbusier's architectecture:

VILLA SAVOYE

Photographs by E.Barr 2007.

The Villa Savoye is a modernist house in Poissy, France, designed by Le Corbusier. The house was built in 1929. It contains the many principles that Le Corbusier believed in. The house portrays its functional elements and is like a machine for living. It has pilotis, or legs, and an anthropomorphic plan and elevation shape.

Villa Savoye has a flat roof which unfortunately leaked. The first floor wraps around a terrace with a garden. Note the expressed radiations and pilotis in the room. Access is by spiralling stairs and ramps.

The building is very modern and would have been very futuristic in 1929. It was often pictured with horse and buggies out the front in contrast with the modernity of the building. Photo of ramp to roof.

THE CHAPEL NOTRE DAME DU HAUT, RONCHAMP

Photographs by E.Barr 2007.

Chapel Notre Dame du Haut by Le Corbusier 1954 (photo Elan Barr 2007). Painted and rended walls incorporate the old chapel destroyed during World War II with a deep winged roof of off form concrete.


Chapel Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp, Ronchamp France, by architect Le Corbusier, 1954 (photo E Barr 2007). The wall of the chapel includes the stone wall of the previous chapel which was destroyed during World War II. The stained glass in deep recesses offers a rich sculptural modelling of the wall and provides a soft natural lighting to the internal space.

Chapel Notre Dame du Haut by Le Corbusier 1954 (photo Elan Barr 2007). External altar and above a gap between the roof and the walls used as a clerestorey light. Some describe this building as the first Post Modern design. It was a large departure from many of Le Corbusiers "machines for living". The site gave inspiration for this building. It sits on a hill top with mountains, valleys and hills surrounding.

Elan Barr in front of the chapel. The building still has many features championed by Le Corbusier. The towers are distinctly anthropomorphic "head and body" shapes. He also used the modern material, concrete.